Base for supporting an upstanding mast

ABSTRACT

A portable base is provided for supporting an upstanding mast and particularly a davit with a jib where the jib includes a load connecting point arranged such that on application of a load beyond a predetermined limit the spacing of the load connecting point from the mast is reduced to reduce a side load on the base. The base includes bottom and side panels connected edge to edge to form a container with a hollow interior filled by concrete where at least one side by side panels forming a top wall has a sleeve extends from the panel at least partly through the hollow interior to the base. The sleeve which is welded to reinforcing bars passing through the material receives and supports the mast and is held in place by forces contributed both by the set filling material and the panels.

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of ProvisionalApplication 61/577,150 filed Dec. 19, 2011.

This invention relates to a portable base for supporting an upstandingmast for example providing a davit with a jib extending to one side andproviding a load connecting point for a safety harness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Upstanding or vertical masts are commonly used to provide an upper endof the mast supported from the ground to which items may be attachedwhich apply a horizontal load to the mast tending to topple the mast toone side.

Where a permanent mounting is required, the mast can be inserted into asleeve which can be connected to the structure of a building or the likeby braces or by burying the sleeve in a concrete floor or otherstructural component.

Portable bases can also be provided which allow the base and the mastcarried thereby to be moved to different locations. However these aretypically metal in construction with various arms and braces so that thebase is complex, massive and difficult to move.

One particular purpose for such masts is that of providing a davitdefining a raised location for connection to a cable of a safety harnessso that the mast can be located adjacent a place of work of a worker forattachment of the cable so that a fall of the worker from an elevatedposition will allow the safety harness to take up the fall before theworker reaches the ground. Of course, in order to achieve this, the mastmust be closely adjacent the place of work to prevent the worker fromswinging toward the mast as he falls. For this purpose preferably thebase is portable, that is it is not attached to the building or localstructure so that it can be lifted and moved.

An arrangement for supporting a fall restraint cable is shown in USPublished Application 2012/0193165 published Aug. 2, 2012 by the presentApplicant. This shows a fall restraint system includes a cable forattachment to a fall restraint harness assembly of a worker. The cablecan be attached to a boom arm cantilevered on a mast carried from theground or can be stretched between two points on opposed walls. A shockabsorber is provided for absorbing at least part of the shock forces soas to reduce the loading applied to the support system. This comprisesan elongate member with a movable member or sleeve mounted on it forlongitudinal movement. The movement is resisted by a friction brake or acompressible material contained within a tube so that the sleeve movesalong the tube in response to loads exceeding the normal load to reducethe loading on the cable while compressing the material in the tube. Thepresent arrangement is particularly designed from use with thearrangement described in this application but can be used to supportmasts for other purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the invention to provide a portable base forsupporting an upstanding mast.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a portablebase for supporting an upstanding mast comprising:

a plurality of metal panels including top, bottom and side panels shapedand arranged to form a container enclosing a hollow interior;

the top panel having a sleeve extending therefrom generally at rightangles to a plane of the top panel so that the sleeve extends from thepanel at least partly through the hollow interior;

the sleeve having an open mouth of the sleeve exposed at the top panelarranged to receive and support the mast to hold the mast longitudinallyalong the sleeve;

the hollow interior being arranged to receive a filling of a settablesolid material which fills the hollow interior and surrounds the sleeve;

whereby the sleeve is held in place by forces contributed both by theset solid filling material and the panels.

Preferably the panels are metal panels although other materials can beused.

Preferably at least some of the panels have upturned edge flanges boltedto edges of next adjacent panels.

Preferably the panels include rectangular side panels and a rectangularbottom panel with the side panels connected at edges of the bottom panelto form a rectangular container. However other shapes such aspyramidical or conical can be used.

Preferably each of the side and bottom panels forms the whole of therespective side. However the sides may be divided into separate panelsections for easier transport prior to the filling of the container. Inmost cases the container is collapsible for transportation but wheretransportation is not an issue a complete welded structure may beprovided.

Preferably the sleeve is attached to the top panel.

Preferably the top panel is formed in a plurality of pieces with atleast one and preferably more of the pieces carrying a sleeve. In thisway the top panel can have one or more sleeves attached for one ormultiple masts and arranged in a symmetrical manner on the base.Preferably the top panel is formed in three pieces.

Preferably the sleeve is welded into a hole in the top panel so as toextend from the panel at right angles thereto and the sleeve standsslightly proud of the top panel to form a collar into which the mast isinserted.

Preferably the base panel includes base rails.

Preferably there are provided lifting tabs on the panels for lifting ofthe container including the filling material.

Preferably there is provided on the container and particularly the toppanel adjacent the sleeve a mast latch for latching the mast into thesleeve.

Preferably there are provided steel reinforcing bars mounted inside thecontainer and extending through the filler material for steelreinforcement of the concrete. The reinforcing bars can be connected tothe panels and/or to the sleeve.

Preferably the mast comprises a davit with a jib extending to one side,although masts for many different purposes can be supported in thismanner.

Preferably the jib includes a load connecting point where the loadconnecting point is arranged such that on application of a load beyond apredetermined limit the spacing of the load connecting point from themast is reduced to reduce a side load on the base.

Preferably at least one of the reinforcing bars is welded to the sleeveto connect the sleeve to the material.

Preferably there are provided hangers on an inside surface of the sidesfor supporting the reinforcing bars prior to setting of the material.

Preferably at least a part of one of the sides is open for filling ofthe container with said one of the sides uppermost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portable base for a mast according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showingthe mast mounted on the base.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in the plane 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a portable basefor a mast according to the present invention.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A portable base 10 is provided for supporting an upstanding mast 11where the mast 11 comprises a davit 12 with a jib 13 extending to oneside and the jib 13 includes a load connecting point 14 for connectionto a cable and harness 15. The load connecting point 14 is arranged by acoupling schematically indicated at 16 such that, on application of aload beyond a predetermined limit, the spacing of the load connectingpoint 14 from the mast 11 is reduced to reduce a side load on the base.In this way the structure and mass of the base can be reduced since theload applied to it cannot exceed a predetermined amount.

An example of an arrangement of this type is disclosed in US PublishedApplication 2012/0193165 published Aug. 2, 2012 by the presentApplicant, to which reference may be made for further details or whichis incorporated herein by reference.

The base 10 is formed of a plurality of metal panels formed from sheetmetal including top panel 17, side panels 18 and bottom panel 19 allshaped and arranged such that the panels can be connected edge to edgeto form a rectangular container 20 with a hollow interior 21.

The top panel 17 has a sleeve 22 attached thereto in that the sleevepasses through a hole 22H and extending therefrom generally at rightangles to the horizontal top plane of the panel 17 so that the sleeveextends from the panel 17 at least partly through the hollow interiorand preferably to a location at or closely adjacent the bottom panel 19.In some cases it is not fastened to the base but as shown in FIG. 2, thesleeve 22 sits on an insert 22J in the form of a collar welded to thebottom panel 19 and standing upwardly from the panel 19 into engagementwith the inside surface or the outside surface of the sleeve to hold itin place aligned with the hole 22H.

The sleeve 22 arranged to receive and support the mast 11 to hold themast longitudinally along an axis of the sleeve so that both are of thesame cross-section to provide a sliding fit and typically both arecircular in cross-section. The sleeve 22 has a plastic insert sleeve 22Kwhich sits inside the upper end of the sleeve 22 and acts as a bushingrelative to the mast 11. The bushing has an end wall which sits againsta bottom stop 22S in the sleeve 22 so as to limit the insertion of thebottom end of the mast into the sleeve 22. The sleeve has a top edgewhich stands slightly proud of the top panel to form a collar 22A at thetop of the bushing into which the mast 11 is inserted.

The hollow interior of the container is arranged to receive a filling ofa set solid material particularly concrete 23 which fills the hollowinterior 21 and surrounds the sleeve. Thus the sleeve 22 is held inplace by forces contributed both by the set filling material 23 and thepanels 17, 18, 19. In order to fill the hollow interior 21 with theconcrete 23, the back of the container indicated at 18A is formed onlyby an upper section 18B which covers only an upper band of the open back18A and has a stiffening flange 18C across the bottom edge of the band.Thus the container can be assembled with the sleeve in place, tippedonto its front wall and filled from the rear with the concrete material.

The panels can be fastened edge to edge to form the container using anysuitable connection system. In FIG. 1 at least some of the panels haveedge flanges 19A, 19B bolted to edges of next adjacent panels. In FIG.7, the panels are connected by frame members 19C, 19D along the junctionlines.

The panels thus include rectangular side panels 18 and a rectangularbottom panel 19 with the side panels 18 connected at edges of the bottompanel to form a rectangular container. Each of the side and bottompanels covers the whole of the respective side of the container apartfrom the filling opening at the rear; but panel can be formed ofseparate pieces. The container can thus be disassembled fortransportation in flat pack and assembled at a use location where thefiller material is inserted and allowed to set.

The top panel 17 is preferably formed in a plurality of pieces 17A, 17Band 17C with at least one of the pieces 17B or 17A and 17C having arespective hole 22H for carrying the sleeve 22 so that either a centralone 17B of the pieces carries a sleeve 22 or the two side pieces 17A and17C each carry a sleeve 22 so that more than one sleeve 22 is providedas shown in FIG. 7.

On the top panel 17 adjacent the collar 22A is provided a mast latch 22Badjacent the sleeve for latching the mast into the sleeve, which locksthe mast in place and/or locks the mast at a selected angle of rotationaround the vertical axis of the sleeve.

Inside the container is provided reinforcing bars 25 mounted inside thecontainer and extending through the filler material. These are formed ofa conventional material and of a conventional arrangement with portionsbent at an angle to connect through the concrete to transfer loads asrequired. The engineering arrangement of the rebars will vary fordifferent constructions. The reinforcing bars may be connected to thepanels and/or to the sleeve or may merely be located in the concrete forholding it against tension loads. Thus as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, thereinforcing bars in one example provides two cross bars 25A and 25Bbridging between the side panels and carried on hanger rails 25Hadjacent the bottom and 25K adjacent the top. An additional rebar loop25C is C-shaped and has a vertical leg and two horizontal legs which arewelded to the sleeve 22 at ends 25E and 25F. Thus the loop stand in avertical plane common to the sleeve and the corners of the loop areattached to the cross bars 25A and 25B. In this way loads on the sleevefrom the mast are transferred into the concrete by the rebars and bydirect engagement of the sleeve surface with the concrete. Yet furtherthe engagement of the sleeve with the top panel 17 and the bottom panel19 acts to transfer loads into these panels which also are intimatelyengaged with the concrete. In this way the significant shock loads formthe fall restraint when applied to the mast are firstly reduced byallowing the jib 13 to collapse inwardly toward the mast and then theremaining loads are transferred into the sleeve and from the sleevethrough the panels and the rebar into the concrete to prevent damage tothe structure or toppling of the structure.

As shown in FIG. 7, the top panel 17T is formed as a single panel piece.In this embodiment the construction is formed as a rectangular framewith the panels attached to the outside surfaces of the frame members19C, 19D. In order to provide additional rigidity, the base panelincludes base rails 19E across the base 19. Also in this arrangementthere are provided lifting tabs 18X on the panels 18 and presented atthe top panel 17T for lifting of the container by a suitable cablesystem and winch with the container including the filling material as aballast. In this way the container can be moved to a selected work siteto hold the mast at the required location.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A portable base for supporting anupstanding mast comprising: a plurality of metal panels including a toppanel, a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels shaped and arrangedto form a container enclosing a hollow interior; the top panel having asleeve attached thereto and extending therefrom generally at rightangles to a plane of the top panel downwardly into the hollow interiorso that the sleeve extends from the top panel at least partly throughthe hollow interior; the sleeve having an open mouth of the sleeveexposed at the top panel arranged to receive and support the mast tohold the mast longitudinally along the sleeve; the hollow interior beingfilled with a set solid material which substantially fills the hollowinterior and surrounds the sleeve; the set solid material being incontact with an outer surface of the sleeve whereby the sleeve is heldin place by forces contributed both by the set solid material and thepanels; and a plurality of reinforcing bars mounted inside the hollowinterior of the container at positions therein spaced from the top andbottom panels and extending through the set solid material, thereinforcing bars being attached to the sleeve and being in intimateengagement with the set solid material so as to communicate forcesbetween the sleeve and the set solid material.
 2. The portable baseaccording to claim 1 wherein at least some of the panels can bereleasably fastened to edges of next adjacent panels for supplying thepanels in disassembled form.
 3. The portable base according to claim 1wherein each of the side panels and the bottom panel comprises a singleintegral piece.
 4. The portable base according to claim 1 wherein thesleeve extends through the hollow interior from the top panel to thebottom panel and is attached to both the top panel and the bottom panel.5. The portable base according to claim 1 wherein the top panel isformed in a plurality of side by side pieces with at least one of thepieces carrying the sleeve.
 6. The portable base according to claim 1wherein the sleeve is welded into a hole in the top panel so as toextend from the panel at right angles thereto.
 7. The portable baseaccording to claim 6 wherein the sleeve stands proud of the top panel toform a collar into which the mast is inserted.
 8. The portable baseaccording to claim 1 wherein there are provided hangers on an insidesurface of the side panels for supporting the reinforcing bars prior tosetting of the material.
 9. The portable base according to claim 1wherein at least a part of one of the side panels is open for filling ofthe container with said one of the side panels uppermost.
 10. A supportassembly for a fall restraint harness comprising: an upstanding mast; aboom extending outwardly to one side of the mast having a couplingthereon for attachment to the harness; a plurality of metal panelsincluding a top panel, a bottom panel and a plurality of side panelsshaped and arranged to form a container enclosing a hollow interior; thetop panel having a sleeve attached thereto and extending therefromgenerally at right angles to a plane of the top panel downwardly intothe hollow interior so that the sleeve extends from the top panel atleast partly through the hollow interior; the sleeve having an openmouth of the sleeve exposed at the top panel arranged to receive andsupport the mast to hold the mast longitudinally along the sleeve; thehollow interior being filled with a set solid material whichsubstantially fills the hollow interior and surrounds the sleeve; theset solid material being in contact with an outer surface of the sleevewhereby the sleeve is held in place by forces contributed both by theset solid material and the panels; and a plurality of reinforcing barsmounted inside the hollow interior of the container at positions thereinspaced from the top and bottom panels and extending through the setsolid material, the reinforcing bars being attached to the sleeve andbeing in intimate engagement with the set solid material so as tocommunicate forces between the sleeve and the set solid material. 11.The support assembly according to claim 10 wherein the sleeve extendsthrough the hollow interior from the top panel to the bottom panel andis attached to both the top panel and the bottom panel.
 12. The supportassembly according to claim 10 wherein at least some of the panels canbe releasably fastened to edges of next adjacent panels for supplyingthe panels in disassembled form.
 13. A portable base for supporting anupstanding mast comprising: a plurality of metal panels including a toppanel, a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels shaped and arrangedto form a container enclosing a hollow interior; the top panel having asleeve attached thereto and extending therefrom generally at rightangles to a plane of the top panel downwardly into the hollow interiorso that the sleeve extends from the top panel at least partly throughthe hollow interior; the sleeve having an open mouth of the sleeveexposed at the top panel arranged to receive and support the mast tohold the mast longitudinally along the sleeve; the hollow interior beingsubstantially totally filled with a set solid material which surroundsthe sleeve; so that the set solid material is in intimate contact withan outer surface of the sleeve; and so that the set solid material is inintimate contact with both the top and bottom panels; and a plurality ofreinforcing bars mounted inside the hollow interior of the container atpositions therein spaced from the top and bottom panels and extendingthrough the set solid material, the reinforcing bars being attached tothe sleeve and being in intimate engagement with the set solid materialso as to communicate forces between the sleeve and the set solidmaterial.
 14. The portable base according to claim 13 wherein the sleeveextends through the hollow interior from the top panel to the bottompanel and is attached to both the top panel and the bottom panel. 15.The portable base according to claim 13 wherein the sleeve extendsthrough the hollow interior from the top panel to the bottom panel andis attached to both the top panel and the bottom panel.
 16. The portablebase according to claim 13 wherein at least some of the panels can bereleasably fastened to edges of next adjacent panels for supplying thepanels in disassembled form.
 17. A support assembly for a fall restraintharness comprising: an upstanding mast; a boom extending outwardly toone side of the mast having a coupling thereon for attachment to theharness; a plurality of metal panels including a top panel, a bottompanel and a plurality of side panels shaped and arranged to form acontainer enclosing a hollow interior; the top panel having a sleeveattached thereto and extending therefrom generally at right angles to aplane of the top panel downwardly into the hollow interior so that thesleeve extends from the top panel at least partly through the hollowinterior; the sleeve having an open mouth of the sleeve exposed at thetop panel arranged to receive and support the mast to hold the mastlongitudinally along the sleeve; the hollow interior being substantiallytotally filled with a set solid material which surrounds the sleeve; sothat the set solid material is in intimate contact with an outer surfaceof the sleeve; and so that the set solid material is in intimate contactwith both the top and bottom panels; and a plurality of reinforcing barsmounted inside the hollow interior of the container at positions thereinspaced from the top and bottom panels and extending through the setsolid material, the reinforcing bars being attached to the sleeve andbeing in intimate engagement with the set solid material so as tocommunicate forces between the sleeve and the set solid material. 18.The portable base according to claim 17 wherein the sleeve extendsthrough the hollow interior from the top panel to the bottom panel andis attached to both the top panel and the bottom panel.
 19. The portablebase according to claim 17 wherein at least some of the panels can bereleasably fastened to edges of next adjacent panels for supplying thepanels in disassembled form.